Toilet bench boxed toilet

ABSTRACT

A covered toilet includes a cross braced drawer frame positioned around a wall mounted toilet connected to a wall tank and a discharge line in the wall. A sliding cover mounted on hidden tracks covers the toilet in a closed position. A pair of drawers are provided in the frame and may each be used when the cover is in the closed position. In operation, the cover may be slid to one side so that the toilet may be used. Automatic operation may be provided by sensing the presence of a user to open the cover and maintain the cover open while the user is present. The user&#39;s departure may be detected so that the cover may be automatically closed and the toilet flushing operation may be automatically actuated.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the priority of the filing U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/822,372, filed Aug. 14, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is related to toilets and in particular to covered toilets.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various toilet and covered toilet designs have been available for many years. Conventional designs are typically unattractive and take up otherwise useful space. What is needed is a new covered toilet design without such limitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of covered toilet 10 in a closed configuration.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of covered toilet 10 in an open configuration.

FIG. 3 is cross sectional view of covered toilet 10 showing the hidden tracks on which the cover rides.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a wall mounted toilet.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a floor mounted toilet without a tank.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a wall mounted covered toilet shown without the toilet for clarity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, a covered toilet may include a toilet assembly, a first box mounted along a first side of the toilet assembly, the first box having at least a top and a front side, a second box mounted along a second side of the toilet assembly, the second box also having at least a top and a front side and a cover slidably supported along the second box, the cover having a top and a front side, the cover slidably to a first position in which the cover is extended toward the first box to cover the toilet assembly and to a second position in which the toilet assembly is exposed for use.

The toilet assembly may include a wall mounted or a floor mounted tankless toilet. A toilet tank may be mounted behind the wall and connected through the wall or the floor to provide flush water to the toilet assembly and a toilet flush button may extend through the wall from the toilet tank for access by a toilet user. Alternately the toilet assembly may include a floor mounted tankless toilet.

A cross brace may be provided for support between the first and second boxes along the top side near the wall behind the toilet assembly and a front brace provided for support between the first and second boxes along the front side nearest the floor below the toilet assembly. The cover may include a rear track mounted behind the cross brace and second box for slidably supporting the top side of the cover and a front track mounted underneath the cross brace and second box for slidably supporting the top side of the cover. The invention first and second boxes and the cross brace may be configured to be mountable directly to a wall or supported by feet resting on the floor.

A control system may be provided for automatically sliding the cover to the first position for use of the toilet when a person is sensed in front of the toilet and for sliding the cover to the second position and then automatically flushing the toilet when the person is no longer sensed. A drawer in the first box may be openable when the cover is in the first or second position and a drawer in the second box openable only when the cover is in the first position.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

A covered toilet is disclosed in which a cross braced frame may be positioned to surround a wall mounted toilet connected to a wall tank and a discharge line in the wall. A sliding cover is provided which covers the toilet in a closed position and in which a pair of drawers in the frame may each be accessible. In operation, the cover may be slid to one side along hidden tracks so that the toilet may be used.

Automatic operation may be provided by sensing the presence of a user to open the cover and maintaining the cover open while the user is present. When the user leaves, the cover may automatically close and the toilet flushing operation may be actuated.

Referring now to FIG. 1, covered toilet 10 is shown in a closed configuration and includes drawer frame 12 mounted on a plurality of legs 14. Drawer frame 12 may include drawer 16 on cover side 18 of frame 12 and may include second drawer 20 on non-cover side 22 of frame 12. Drawers 16 and 20, if present, may be mounted for travel as drawers, generally in the configuration of file drawers, which may be opened by operation of drawer handles, such as recessed handles 22. Drawer 20 may, for example, conveniently be used to house toilet paper.

Cover 24 having generally vertical front side 26 and generally horizontal top side 28 is positioned between cover side 18 and non-cover side 22 of frame 12. Cover 24 may conveniently be fabricated from the same or a contrasting material from which drawer frame 12 is fabricated. For example, cover 24 may be made of wood while drawer frame 12 is made from steel or other metal.

Referring now also to FIG. 2, covered toilet 10 is shown in an open configuration in which cover 24 has been slid toward cover side 18 of frame 12, exposing toilet 30, which may conveniently be a wall mounted toilet (such as the Duravit Caro manufactured by Duravit AG of Homberg, Germany) mounted against a wall in a conventional manner. A wall mounted tank may be used (such as the Geberit Wallmount, manufactured by Geberit of DesPlaines, Ill.). The tank is shown as tank 32 mounted behind wall 58 in FIG. 3. For strength and rigidity, frame 12 may be constructed of a pair of boxes 34 and 36, each of which may contain a sliding drawer, held rigidly together by cross members 38 and 40 which are hidden from view by cover 24 in the closed position as shown in FIG. 1. An additional cross member, parallel and at the same height from the floor as cross member 38 may be mounted below cross member 40 and would be hidden from view in this figure by toilet 30.

Legs 14 may be used to support frame 12 above the floor, for example at a height of about 6 inches, providing a conveniently unobstructed area below toilet 30 and frame 12 so that the floor beneath covered toilet 10 may be conveniently kept clean.

Toilet 30 may include conventional ceramic toilet bowl 42, toilet seat 44 and toilet seat lid 48.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a cross sectional view of covered toilet 10 is shown including two sided cover 24, drawer frame 12 and legs 14. Wall mounted tank 32 may be mounted in the wall behind covered toilet 10, for example between wall studs. A conventional toilet flushing button 50 may also be provided for flushing the toilet after use. A conventional plumbing arrangement may also be used in which water from tank 32 is released by operation of flush button 50 through flush water inlet pipe 52 which may also be mounted in the wall. Waste pipe or sewer connection 54 may be connected to the discharge side of bowl 42 and also be mounted in the wall behind covered toilet 10.

Cover 24 may be mounted for sliding motion along hidden tracks 56 and 57. For example, front track 57 may be mounted underneath the lower forward edge of frame 12 along cross brace 38 and cover side 18. Rear track 56 may be mounted behind the upper back edge of frame 12 along cross brace 40 and cover side 18.

In manual operation, the user would slide cover 24 from the position shown in FIG. 1, which blocks toilet 30 from view, toward cover side 18 of frame 12 to expose toilet 30 for use as shown in FIG. 2. The user would lift toilet seat lid 48, and/or toilet seat 44, to use toilet 30. After use, the user would push flush button 50, replace toilet seat lid 48, and/or toilet seat 44 if lifted, and return cover 24 to the closed position by sliding cover 24 toward non-cover side 22.

Automatic operation may be provided by a control system, shown generally as control system 60, which may be mounted beneath covered toilet 10. Control system 60 may include a forward looking sensor, such as an IR beam and detector, which detects the presence of a person in front of bowl 42 whether cover 24 is closed or not. Control system 60 may also include motors and drivers for sliding cover 24 from the closed position toward non-cover side 2 to the open position toward cover side 18. Control system 60 may also include an electric actuator for operating flush button 50.

During automatic operation, a person approaching toilet bowl 42 could be detected by control system 60 which would then operate a motor to slide cover 24 open. If automatic operation is intended to be used exclusively, toilet seat 44 and/or lid 48 may be dispensed with. During use, control system 60 would maintain cover 24 in the open position by detecting the continued presence of the user, for example in the sitting position. After use, control system 60 would detect the user moving away from toilet bowl 42 and cause cover 24 to move toward non-cover side 22 to close the compartment including toilet 30 and also actuate the flush mechanism so that the operation of covered toilet would be fully automatic.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, toilet 30 may be a wall mounted toilet in which bowl 42 is supported above floor 62 by brace 64 which may for example be mounted between studs in wall 58.

Referring now to FIG. 5, toilet bowl 43 may be supported directly by floor 62. Bowl 43 may be a modified version of a standard toilet in which the water tank 32 is mounted in wall 58 and flush water inlet 52 reaches bowl 43 through wall 58 as shown, or alternately through floor 62 in a manner similar to waste connection 54.

Referring now to FIG. 6, in an alternate arrangement, covered toilet 10 may be mounted directly to wall 58, that is without legs 14 as shown in FIG. 1. Box 36, cross brace 40 and box 34 may be mounted to wall studs 68 and/or various cross bracing studs not shown, between wall studs 68 in wall 58. Slot 64 may preferably be provided between the top portion of box 34 and wall 58 to provide for mounting of rear track 56 to which cover 24, not shown in this figure, may be slidably mounted. 

1. A covered toilet comprising: a toilet assembly; a first box mounted along a first side of the toilet assembly, the first box having at least a top and a front side; a second box mounted along a second side of the toilet assembly, the second box also having at least a top and a front side; and a cover slidably supported along the second box, the cover having a top and a front side, the cover slidably to a first position in which the cover is extended toward the first box to cover the toilet assembly and to a second position in which the toilet assembly is exposed for use.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the toilet assembly further comprises: a wall mounted tankless toilet.
 3. The invention of claim 2 further comprising: a toilet tank mounted behind the wall and connected through the wall to provide flush water to the toilet assembly; and a toilet flush button extending through the wall from the toilet tank for access by a toilet user.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the toilet assembly further comprises: a floor mounted tankless toilet.
 5. The invention of claim 4 further comprising: a toilet tank mounted behind the wall; and a toilet flush button extending through the wall from the toilet tank for access by a toilet user.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the toilet tank is connected to the toilet assembly through the wall to provide flush water to the toilet assembly.
 7. The invention of claim 5 wherein the toilet tank is connected to the toilet assembly through the floor to provide flush water to the toilet assembly.
 8. The invention of claim 1 further comprising: a cross brace for support between the first and second boxes along the top side near the wall behind the toilet assembly; and a front brace for support between the first and second boxes along the front side nearest the floor below the toilet assembly.
 9. The invention of claim 8 wherein the slidably mounted cover further comprises: a rear track mounted behind the cross brace and second box for slidably supporting the top side of the cover; and a front track mounted underneath the cross brace and second box for slidably supporting the top side of the cover.
 10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the first and second boxes and the cross brace are configured to be mountable directly to a wall or supported by feet resting on the floor.
 11. The invention of claim 1 further comprising: a control system for automatically sliding the cover to the first position for use of the toilet when a person is sensed in front of the toilet and for sliding the cover to the second position and then automatically flushing the toilet when the person is no longer sensed.
 12. The invention of claim 1 further comprising: a drawer in the first box openable when the cover is in the first or second position; and a drawer in the second box openable only when the cover is in the first position. 